Steady rest for crankshaft lathes



June 29, 1937.

W. F. GROENE STEADY REST FOR CRANKSHAFT LATHES Filed Oct. 28, 1936 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Mun/w FkaE/VE.

BY I) MEN MM ATTORNEYS.

June 29, 1937. w. F. GROENE STEADY REST FOR CRANKSHAFT LATHES 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 28, 1956 ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 29, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STEADY REST FORCRANKSHAFT LATHES Application October 28, 1936, Serial No. 108,038 11Claims. (01. 82-39) My invention relates to devices whereby the bearingsof crankshafts which are being turned in a lathe may be held in steadyposition. This invention is particularly applicable to lathes known asorbital or pin turning lathes either of the single or multiple spindletype.

It has been found in lathes of these types, particularly where theturning of all of the pins at one operation is an objective, that unlessgreat care is taken in mounting the journals of the shaft, thetremendous work strains may set up vibrations which can build up to theextent of causing the machine itself to break down, as well as ruiningthe workand the tools.

In crankshaft lathes of the type indicated the rapidity of the turningoperation is such that the loading and chucking of work pieces in theselathes must be accomplished likewise in a very rapid manner.

An object of my invention is to provide a steady rest which positivelyclamps about the work piece and which is manipulated by a single controllever.

Another object is to provide in a steady rest comprising a fixed bearingmember and a movable clamping member a single lever adapted to move theclamping member to and from holding position and in addition to lock andunlock the clamping member when in work holding position.

Still another object is to provide in asteady rest comprising a fixedbearing member and a movable clamping member, a single manipulatinglever on the clamping member which serves both to move the clampingmember and to lock and unlock said-member when-inwork holding position.

A further object'of my invention is to provide in a steady restcomprising a fixed bearing member and a movable member an arrangement ofanti-friction rollers for maximum durability and ease of replacement.

;Further objects and features of my invention will appear from thefollowing drawings,'in which:

Fig. I is a side elevation partly in section on line I-I'of Fig IV ofthe steady rest, viewed along the axis of work rotation.

Fig. II is a -section through the anti-friction roller assembly on theline II--II of Figs. Iand V. Fig. III is a side elevation of a steadyrest unit of a typical orbital lathe showing a plurality of steady restsof my invention applied thereto.

Fig. IV is a front elevation of the steady rest unit and steady restsshown in Fig. HI.

description of the Fig. V is a side elevation of the steady restantifriction roller assembly as shown in Fig. I but with a side plateremoved to more clearly show the position of the rollers.

The steady rest comprises the usual frame I, typical of lathes of thetype shown in Patent 1,934,530, having the fixed bearing portion 2formed integral with the frame I and the hinged clamping member 3pivotally mounted on the pin 4 fixed in the lug 5 of the frame I. Theclamping member 3 also has a bearing portion 6. Fixed on the bearingportions 2 and 6 are the respective anti-friction roller, cartridges Iand 8. The cartridge 1 comprises the arcuate member 9 secured to thebearing portion 2 by means of suitable screws In (Fig. V) and sideplates II and I2 fixed to the member 9 by suitable screws i3. Betweenthe side plates H and 12 are rotatalbly mounted the rollers l4 on studsl5 supported in the side plates ll and l2, the rollers l4 being soarranged as properly to support and journal V a work piece W in thesteady rest.

Likewise the cartridge 8 comprises the arcuate member I6 secured to thebearing portion 6 by means of a suitable screw I1 and side plates l8 andI9 fixed to the member l6 by suitable screws 20. Between the side platesl8 and H! are rotatably mounted the rollers 2| on studs 22 supported inthe side plates 18 and IS, the rollers 2|.

being so arranged as properly to support and journal the work piece W inthe steady rest when the clamping member 3 is swung over the 'workpiece. Suitable locating abutments la and 4b are provided formaintaining proper relationship between the cartridges I and B and thework piece W. A novel construction involved in these cartridges 1 and 8is that they do not separate on a diametral parting line, but alongv thelines at 23 and 24 so that one cartridge will be of greater and theother of less than semi-circular extent. The purpose of this arrangementisto allow a greater number of rollers 2| to be applied in one cartridgethan in the other so as to provide more adequate resistance todistortion of the work piece W in the line of cutting tool pressurewhile at the same time permitting opening and closing of the movablesteady rest member 3.

The manipulating and locking mechanism for the clamping member 3 isactuated by the single lever 25 which is fixed in the bore 26 in therocking member 21. The rocking member 21 is pivotally mounted on thestud 2B fixed in the clampfree to move between the faces 29 and 30 ofthe ing member 3 so that the rocking member 21 is slot' 3| (Fig. IV).Asp ring 32 mounted in the in the frame deer 21.

lever 25 urges the plunger 33 outward against a suitable hardened pin 34in the clamping member 3, whereby yieldingly to urge the rocking member21 at all times in locking direction,

normally keeping the, projection 35 of the rocking member 21 against thebottom 36 of the slot 3|.

In a slot 3|a in the clamping member 3 is .pivotally mounted the latch31 on the stud 38 fixed in the member 3. The latch31 is connected totherocking member 21 by means of the link 3801. mounted to swivel on' thepin 39 in' the latch 31 and the pin 40 in the rocking mem- Thearrangement of these three pivotal connections 28, 39, and 40 provides atoggle action mechanism whereby the latch 31 is normally thrust out ofthe slot 3|a under the influence of the spring 32 in handle 25. Thepivotal connections 28, 39 and 40 are arranged to be in a straight lineA--A when the latch 31 is thrust fully outward, thereby positivelyholding the latch in that position. The latch 31,can only be withdrawnfrom this outward position by pulling forward and down on the lever 25.

A hardened abutment 4| mounted in the frame I is arranged for slidingengagement with the end 42 of the latch 31 and is made adjustablethereto by means of the, set screw 43 threaded It can thus be seen thatwhen the latch is thrust outward by the mechanism described, theclamping member 3, when engaged over the work piece W, will bepositively locked between the locating abutments 4a and 4|. It is to benoted that the latch will remain engaged with the abutment 4| withoutassistance from the toggle mechanism described as the pressure tendingto open -the clamping member 3 is set up along the line B--B-substantially perpendicular to line of motion of the end 42 of the latch31. The toggle arrangement serves automatically to force the latch 31into engagement with the abut ment 4|; to provide positive means to holdthe latch in said engagement; and to provide sufficiently powerful meansto withdraw the latch should it become bound against the abutment 4|.

The operation of this steady rest is extremely simple and rapid. Inorder to unclamp the work piece W as seen in Fig. I, the operator merelypulls the lever 25 forwardly and downwardly. This motion first Withdrawsthe latch 31 and then causes the clamping member 3 to swing away fromthe work. A suitable lug 44 on the clamping member, striking theabutment 45 on the frame I, limits the outer swinging movement of theclamping member. The work W may then be unloaded or loaded in themachine. ing the clamping member, the member is raised and swung overthe work by means of the lever 25, the lever being held slightly forwardso as to prevent the positive toggle action along the line A--A frombecoming effective until the abutments 4a and 4b are fully engaged.Normally when the lever 25 is so held during the initial stages ofclosing the clamping member over the work W, the edge 46 of the latch31will come in contact with the face 41 on the frame and 48 of theabutment 4| so as automatically to maintain this relationship duringthefinal stages of swinging the clamping member, and finally permittingautomatic full engagement of the latch 31 with the abutment 4| when theabuta fixed journal member mounted in said frame, a movable clampingmember pivotally mounted on said frame for swinging relative to saidfixed journal member, abutment means to limit the relative approachofsaid members, means for positively holding said movable member engagedwith said abutment means, and common means for rendering said lastmentioned means effective or ineffective and for moving said movablemember.

2. A steady rest for lathes comprising a frame, a fixed journal membermounted in said frame, a movable clamping member pivotally mounted onsaid frame for swingingrelative to said fixed journal member, a stop tolimit the relative approach of said members, a latch mounted in saidmovable member, an abutment on said frame engageable by said latchwhereby said movable member is held in positive engagement with saidstop when in clamping position, and a single lever for operating saidlatch and swinging said movable member.

3. Asteady rest for lathes comprising a frame,

a fixed journal member mounted in said frame,

a movable clamping member pivotally mounted on said frame for swingingrelative to said fixed journal member, a stop to limit the relativeapproach of said members, a, latch mounted in said 1 movable member, anabutment on said frame engageable by said latch whereby said movablemember is held in engagement with said stop when in clamping position, alever pivotally mounted on said movable member, and a toggle jointbetween said latch and said lever whereby said latch may be moved bysaid lever, ,said lever also serving as the means for swinging themovable member to clamping and unclamping position.

4. A steady rest for lathes comprising a frame, a fixed journal membermounted in said frame, a movable clamping member pivotally mounted onsaid frame for swinging relative to said fixed journal member, a stopto. limit the relative approach of said members, a latch mounted in saidmovable member, an abutment on said frame engageable by said latchwhereby said movable member is held in engagement with said stop when inclamping position, a lever pivotally into a straight line wherebypositively to hold said latch in locking contact with said abutment whensaid movable member is in clamping position.

5. A steady rest for lathes comprising a frame,

a fixed journal member mounted in said frame,"

a movable clamping member pivotally mounted on said frame for swingingrelative to said fixed journal member, a stop to limit the relativeapproach of said members, a latch mounted in said movable member, anabutment on said frame engaged by said latch whereby said movable memberis held in engagement with said stop when in clamping position, a leverpivotally mounted on said movable member, a toggle joint between saidlatch and said lever whereby movement of said lever can bring said latchin looking contact with said abutment-when said movable member is inclamping position, and resilient means for normally urging said togglejoint into said straight line.

6. A steady restof crankshaft lathes comprising a frame and a pluralityof steady rest devices on saidframe each comprising a fixed jour-2,086,857 I I a 3 fnal member mounted in said'frame, a movable clampingmember pivotally mounted in said frame to swing relative to said fixedjournal member, a movable locking member mounted on said 5 clampingmember, and a single means for swinging said movable member to or fromclamping position and to lock or unlock said locking member when inclamping position.

7. A steady rest for crankshaft lathes comprising a frame and aplurality of steady rest devices on. said frame each comprising a fixedjournal member mounted in said frame, a movable-clamping memberpivotally mounted on said frame to swing relative to said fixed journalmember, and means for swinging said movable member to or from clampingposition and to lock or unlock said movable member when in clampingposition comprising a latch pivotally mounted on said movable member, anabutment on said frame engageable by said latch, a lever pivotallymounted on said movable member, a toggle joint connecting said lever tosaid latch, a stop in connection with said lever to stop said togglewhen in a straight'line, and resilient means for urging said leveragainst said stop.

8. A steady rest for crankshaft lathes as set forth in claim 7 wherein astop is provided to limit the outward swinging movement of said movablemember.

- 9. In a steady rest for lathes comprising a fixed journal member and amovable journal member,

anti-friction journal portions in said members, comprising arcuatecartridges one in each member containing rollers mounted for treerotation and to bear against a cylindrical surface oi the 5 work piecebeing turned, one of said arcuate cartridges being of greater thansemi-circular extent, the other cartridge being of less thansemi-circular extent.

10. A steady rest for lathes comprising a fixed 10 journal member and amovable clamping member, a latch mounted in said movable member, anabutment associated with said fixed journal member, means to cause saidlatch to automatically engage said abutment so as to hold said movable15 member in clamping position, and common means for disengaging saidlatch from said abutment and for moving said movable member fromclamping position. x

11. A steady rest for lathes comprising a 20 fixed journal member and amovable clamping member, a latch mounted in said movable member, anabutment associated with said fixed journal member, means to cause saidlatch to automatically engage said abutment so as to hold 25 saidmovable member in clamping position, and common means for disengagingsaid latch from said abutment and for moving said movable member to andfrom clamping position.

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